Most of the European and Euro-style ones (like Fisher-Paykel) have the filter instead of the grinder. It's not a big deal. Do NOT let that stop you. I don't scrape my dishes well and dump out the filter ever few weeks. You simple rinse it. Easy. Not gross. Seriously, I am so very much into low maintenance you would not want to eat at my place and even I don't mind it.

That sounded bad. :)

Your salesman I bet does has never actually used a dishwasher with a filter or he'd know it was nothing.

And hey--no grinder to break.

We just installed the GE Model #: GDWF160RSS. We definitely had a price point to consider. It was replacing an ancient kitchenaid that was a workhorse. It is nicely quiet, the interior seems large, the dishes fit well and things are clean. We also looked at the Whirlpool (can't remember the model number) but the silverware basket was much too small. I personally will not buy a new Kitchenaid because we had a terrible experience with our last remodel - although I loved the interior set-up of the ones we looked at. Also, I'm not a European dishwasher fan - as much as people rave about them.

I had a Bosch before my current Fisher-Paykel dish drawers. I really liked it. No problems.

I have always had great luck with Whirlpool dishwashers and would have one now except after we put in hardwood floor, none of the Whirlpools would fit underneath the counter. We have a Bosch instead and have NO problems with food in the basket. I check it periodically, and there's never anything there, and I do NOT pre-rinse my dishes.

I do not like the stainless interior because it requires my adding Glass Magic with every load or else the interior gets really ugly.

One good point about Bosch is that they have a pan and sensor underneath so that if it ever leaks, the pan catches the water and the sensor shuts off the water. I don't know if all Bosch DWs have this feature though, but with hardwood floors in the kitchen it gives peace of mind.

Thanks. I had to think the Bosch DWers were not gross or troublesome to deal with since so many people love them. I looked at Whirlpool and the only thing I don't like is what I perceive as inadequate basket for cutlery. Kinda puny it seemed to me. I do like that some models in my price range have the power jet things (not sure the correct term). They are along the back wall of the DW and give extra scrubbing power. I have this feature on the Kenmore I have now and seem to be a good feature. We are building a new home, so all new appliances are needed.
Any other suggestions welcome.

I have a whirlpool and it seems just fine. I've had it for 2 years. At my old house, I also had a whirlpool (5 years there) and it was fine. no service issues. cleans everything 98% of the time. we sometimes scrape dishes. I'm only picky about cleaning off rice. It's not noisy, but I do hear it. I mainly run it at night, but honestly, I don't mind the dishwasher sounds - it's a homey reminder that my kitchen is cleaned up for the night. (one of my "all is right in the world" sounds).

Yes, the cutlery area is inadequate. very easy remedy. I took a large plastic cup and drilled lots of holes in it - making sure that 2 of the bottom holes line up with the dw spokes. (then I "spear" the cup on the spokes.) instant extra cutlery holder.

Wow, you are creative lawjedi. Cleaning performance is by far my #1 issue. My kitchen in the new house won't be near "relaxing" areas & TV, etc., so I am not too picky about noise. I must say that I've noticed that even in the last few years, DWers seem to have a "cheaper" feel, e.g. the heft of the racks and how they feel when you roll them out. I am sad to see that only the very high-end ones seem to have a solid look & feel. I am willing to spend into the 700s at the very most, but I just can't plop down more than that on a DW.

Kitchenaid KUDC03IVBS. This was one of the lower priced KA's with a SS front and SS tub. There is a strip of black plastic where the controls are at the top front of the door. We did not want to get a DW where the controls were on the top edge of the door. It replaced a 15yo KA that was still doing the job but it was a beige door front and had to go. KA recommends using a rinse agent to sheet the water off to aid drying of the dishes and the inside of the tub. Works great. I filled the rinse agent container up last week. Have washed about 6 loads and the indicator has barely moved off the full line. Machine is quieter than the one it replaced. I tested it by not scraping some plates that had a mixture of melted cheese and pasta sauce, letting them sit for a couple of days and it cleaned it all. Currently on sale on the internet for about $597. The racks do not have all the bells and whistles but are sized to hold a lot and the cutlery basket is large. For the price it does the job probably as well as those machines costing hundreds more, but then you ain't paying for performance when you get one of those.

I love my Bosch.
The trap instead of the grinder is for larger items like
chicken bones or anything that can not be melted by the
extreme heat clean cycle. I keep forgetting it does not have
a grinder.

I check my filter weekly but I have never had to clean it
out. It is always clean. I have my DW since April 09. I
check it but there is nothing there. Probably because I do
not put dishes into the DW with bones or large particle of
food bonded to the dishes. I love that I do not have to
rinse my dishes and the come out looking perfectly clean.

This is my second, no third KA. First one I had for 25 yrs. Motor went out, but was under warranty and was replaced free. I have hard water and had to learn how to deal.

This kitchen I put in 2 KA. They have the grinder, which I like. And I like dry dishes, not wet ones, so I like the heat dry option. And the sani rinse option, too.

The cutlery basket is large and the loading is great. Some of the others I looked at just didn't make loading sense inside, maybe because I'm just used to the KA. First model was pretty much builder grade. These new ones are upgraded to accept cabinet panels. DH insists on rinsing the dishes really well, but I just shake off the dishes and run the rinse only cycle if it's not full to run and it all comes out the same. It's been almost 2 years now and still happy.

Entry level Miele? I replaced ages old maytag with mid level Miele..wonderful..very flexible racks..love it.